There are few words in the sports world that are as overused and over-debated as the word “rivalry”. What does it mean? From thefreedictionary.com:

ri·val·ry (rvl-r)

n.pl.ri·val·ries

1. The act of competing or emulating.

2. The state or condition of being a rival.

OK, in that case, every single matchup in sports is considered a rivalry, because every team is in an act of competition with every other team. But we, the sports fans, know better, don’t we? Do you have the same sense of anticipation and animosity in a Tuesday night game in Florida as you would on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre? Of course not! All rivalries are simply not created equally. So then, what are some qualifiers we need to come up with to choose the true rivalries from the fake, made-for-TV ones?

1. History. This is what makes Leafs-Habs games the best of the year in my opinion. Sure, the teams haven’t played in a playoff series in a while (1978-79, to be exact), but some rivalries never die, and that’s the case here. Its roots are in the old battles between English and French Canada, and even though the feud isn’t the same, there remains a bit of political tension between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Other rivalries such as Habs-Bruins and Blackhawks-Red Wings were started back in the Original Six days, and remain to this day.

2. Geography. There’s the Battle of Ontario and the Battle of Alberta. How about that vicious three-way rivalry between the Rangers, Islanders and Devils? Or the battles between the two Pennsylvanian tenants: the Flyers and Penguins? California may not be a traditional hockey hotbed, but there’s plenty of ill will tossed around between the three teams hanging out in that state. They even have their own blog (http://www.battleofcali.com) dedicated to hating on each other.

3. Division and Conference. I think we can all agree two teams who are not in the same conference can’t really be considered a rivalry. You just can’t truly build up a hatred for a team you only get to see once or twice a year. I don’t think you necessarily need to be in the same division to be considered a rival, but it certainly helps. What’s that thing people used to say? Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Well, it’s like that, but the opposite. In my case, the four teams I hate the most (Habs, Bruins, Sens and Sabres) are all in the same division as the Leafs, so that’s handy.

4. Playoff History. Is it still considered a rivalry if one team continually beats another in the playoffs? At any rate, at least those four consecutive playoff series in the early 2000s between the Leafs and Sens helped both fan bases hate each other in new and creative ways. There was the time Daniel Alfredsson hit Darcy Tucker from behind . Or the time Daniel Alfredsson pretended to throw his stick in the crowd to mock Mats Sundin (I’m still not really sure why we got so upset about that, but anyway, we did). Or the time Tie Domi knocked Martin Havlat unconscious with a late, blindside hit. During those days, the Battle of Ontario was at its fiercest. Canucks-Blackhawks is another example of a rivalry being taken up a notch thanks to a few memorable playoff battles.

Anyway, those are a few qualifiers I can think of right now. There might be some more I’m forgetting.

So let’s revisit that @hockeynight tweet. Is Leafs-Blackhawks a certifiable rivalry? I’m writing this on Saturday afternoon, so maybe something happened in the game last night which made everybody in Toronto and Chicago instantly hate each other with a newfound passion. But barring an incident of that magnitude, Leafs-Blackhawks should not be considered a real rivalry.

Was it a rivalry back in the 60s? I’m sure it was. I remember reading about the playoff series the two teams battled it out in 1967, starring Bobby Hull, Dave Keon, Stan Mikita, George Armstrong, Tony Esposito, Johnny Bower and company. But unfortunately, the expansion era seems to have killed it. I can’t even remember the last time the Leafs and Blackhawks played against each other. Hence why teams in separate conferences can’t really be rivals.

This isn’t an indictment of HNIC. They’re trying to sell ad revenue and attract eyeballs, so they’re going to play up those old Original Six battles like none other. Part of the reason we love hockey is the history, so those battles should be celebrated. Let’s just not pretend they’re reason enough to call these teams rivals.

Optimustic Burtonboy Thanks. Looking forward to following MacWilliams progress. Would pair nicely with one of our more offensive guys in the future

Burtonboy

Optimustic Burtonboy Thanks. Looking forward to following MacWilliams progress. Would pair nicely with one of our more offensive guys in the future

Optimustic

Burtonboy Optimustic Agreed, I was thinking the same thing about Holzer, MacWilliams will drop the gloves though when needed.

Conis

Jordan29 Yep that’s a nurse for ya. They also know more then MDs and Pharmacists

Jmessih

Optimustic Yaknowwhat Grabo trade it was him and a second for grabo

Loric76

here we go, bitchfest coming up… https://twitter.com/FAN590https://twitter.com/FAN590/status/392048475019698176 Brad Marsh, former https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MapleLeafs&src=hash defenceman, joins Sportsnet Tonight now to discuss the current https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Leafs&src=hash D and leadership within the club.

Jordan29

@Conis Jordan29 well yes, those things are classified as everything!

Jmessih

Burtonboy Looking good Andrew!

Jmessih

Burtonboy Also want to point out after 2 period Ashton had 5 shots 1 goal, and had a couple breakaway, clearly an eventful game, Smith had an assist, David Broll was zeros across the board now I didn’t watch but I’m not to happy with a performance like that out of Broll. Anyone who watched Optimustic have an update? How did the kids look?

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

Refresh the page, new site. New mobile and tablet theme, etc.

Jordan29

DeclanK weird……not too bad

Jordan29

DeclanK 60000 times faster

Burtonboy

DeclanK Cool

Optimustic

DeclanK I was on the Blackberry Playbood earlier. I could post, but not reply. It was also very slow. I’ll try it again as I hope the new site works better with it.

Jmessih

DeclanK OH snap big changes! This site gets better and better, I just want to say thanks for all the work you guys put in. This is a great place for leafs news, opinions, updates, and everything else. Thanks for a great site!!

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

-Keon- Comments should be much faster and the mobile (tablet) version is much, much better.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

-Keon- ’tis

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

MikeGartner11 Ya, should load more quickly for desktops, and much, much quicker for mobile/tablets.

Loric76

very nice

Nikhil Daljeet

DeclanK -Keon- Loads faster for me even on my laptop

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

-Keon- DeclanK Previously, mobile/tablets got the same site as the desktop site. Not mobile/tablets have a responsive theme that adjusts to the size of the phone or tablet. LiveFyre displays a different version of the comments now. Before, mobile phones got the desktop version of the comments, now they get a mobile’ized version. That’s how.

Cameron19

Loric76 There are issues on D, but the problem is with our forwards, for the most part.

MaxwellHowe

The clean lines, the snazzy fonts and links. This sort of thing might encourage a degree of civility on this site. And maybe the Leafs would have won last nite if they had worn their snazzy original six away unis..

MaxwellHowe

Cameron19 Loric76 The Blackhawks forwards swarm, moving constantly and always in unison. Whatever is the opposite of all that, that has been the state of the Leafs forward units.

Cameron19

-Keon- Nikhil Daljeet DeclanK It’s not faster on the initial load for me, but once it’s up, it’s smoother.

Optimustic

It may be a little faster, but the reply feature still doesn’t work on the Playbook.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

Cameron19 -Keon- Nikhil Daljeet DeclanK 70% of the load time is the ads. It’s faster on the whole.

JMAC17

Whoa…slick changes

skiingallday

wow, I like the changes.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

Optimustic Can you comment on other sites with real-time commenting with the playbook?

wendelsway1

Looking Good Guys!!

MaxwellHowe

Optimustic Being fast only discourages sober second thought. I’ve used the few seconds of delay wisely thru the last few weeks. If only Fenton knew the range of utterly filthy things I meant to call him that were deleted as I cooled my jets waiting for Livefyre.

Optimustic

DeclanK Optimustic Not sure, I almost never use other sites. I could give it a try though. I’ll try the Yahoo site, I think I’ve commented there in the past, (Way past though. ) P.S. I’m replying from the PC.

Cameron19

MaxwellHowe Cameron19 Loric76 Yep.

JMAC17

Loads way faster for me (laptop). Changes are nice, not to drastic, everything is still where you think it will be. Nice and clean looking.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

Optimustic DeclanK Playbook won’t work with new technologies like AJAX, so real-time commenting won’t work for you.

Optimustic

DeclanK Optimustic Thanks Declan.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

JMAC17 Ya, more of an upgrade than overhaul. Creeping up on 35-40% mobile and tablet users, so they get their own version of the site now. Tried on 2 different Androids on a slow wifi connection and it runs a million times better for me. Hope everyone else finds the same.

JMAC17

I am a little disappointed Sean Lamb made the cut though, but thankful he is smaller…lol

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/ DeclanK

JMAC17 HAHA!

Alec Brownscombe

JMAC17 Sean Lamb is a big Leafs fan who sponsors MLHS, show him some love

Jordan29

Does anyone have any epic NHL14 games they played? I just as one where a guy was detroit and was up 5-1 after the first. I tried to quit but pressed the wrong button and the decided not to. Came back and Bozak scored in OT for the 6-5 win. He was probably pissed lol

MaxwellHowe

Cameron19 MaxwellHowe Loric76 RC needs to get himself a plan for the forwards- in the ozone and dzone, set the lines in place and bring the hammer down. Sit guys who don’t execute. Letting this continue is not an option. I liked the Hawks approach. Stretch out the forwards, make seams and let the speed of the wingers beat the D. The other approach is to have the forwards come all the way back for puck support. Any idea what might work? In terms of ozone, the Leafs need to learn to win puck battles down low (not sure how you teach that), cycle the puck and bottle teams in.

Bobsyouruncle

Goes to sharpens pitchfork…..

Jordan29

Alec Brownscombe JMAC17 Thats my boy then. SEAN FTW!

Alec Brownscombe

Jordan29 I’ve been absolutely ripping up Xbox Live with the Leafs on 14. If you have XBL, add LeafsHotStove. I’m gonna break into the top 100 in versus play soon

Cameron19

MaxwellHowe Cameron19 Loric76 Come all the way back and move the puck up the ice as a unit, attack with speed. Rush on the counter-attack.

Jordan29

Alec Brownscombe JMAC17 Anyone living in his area should remember that when your dealing with Real Estate next time. My agent I always use is a massive leafs fan too. Thats how you know they are smart!